The Girl Scouts have had an incredibly positive influence on the lives of millions of women. And, with good reason: they teach girls to be good citizens and inspire them to be the absolute best they can be.
You might think it odd to find an article about the Girl Scouts on a site that focuses on the latter years of one’s life. However, I think you’ll quickly see that the correlation is not that far fetched.
There are many traditions in the Girl Scouts. Some are more widely honored than others today, but most are discussed as part of teaching the Girl Scout way. From the friendship circle to the Girl Scout Promise to SWAPS; each has it’s place in the history and legacy of the Scouts. Each of these have been part of the lives of girls over the years and still are today.
There is one tradition that I think is fundamental to the success this organization has had in truly helping girls in their daily lives. That is, the Girl Scout motto.
Be Prepared
This motto is the same ideal that I believe can help millions of people across the globe meet success in the later part of their lives. It is the same call-to-action that I’ve given to so many people over the years.
If you want to keep living your best life after you retire and for the rest of your life, you have to plan ahead.
What does it take to be prepared?
There are so many things that go into being prepared for aging in place. But, there are three things that I believe can help you shape your future if you take them on.
Learning
You have to educate yourself and understand what life may hold for you as you grow older. This includes learning about what your future needs could be and how that relates to your community, home, finances, health and mind.
You can start learning right away by reading through the various sections on our website, then move on to talking with professionals, such as a Certified Financial Planner, an elder law attorney and others.
Planning
Once you’ve started learning more about aging in place and talking with those that can help you understand what the future may hold, you’ll have to build your plan. This includes identifying your goals and identifying the steps it will take to reach them.
Your plan should include steps such as making financial and legal preparations, deciding where and how you want to live in the next phase of your life and talking with your family about your wishes. Those conversations are more important than you might realize.
Action
You have to work your plan if you’re going to be successful, working to ensure your plan is executed properly. This will mean doing whatever needs to be done to keep everything on track so you reach your goals. And, it means weighing your future decisions to see how they line up with your plan.
Your call-to-action
There have been many Girl Scouts that became women who were thankful for the teaching they received during their time in the Scouts. These women know the power one has when you are prepared. It gives you focus, determination and direction … it leads to success.
You’ve spent so many years up to this point building a life you can be proud of. Why not make the rest of it just as incredible?
Be prepared for what your future holds and start getting ready now.
photo: Paula Lively
